Other Sharks (EXCEPT prohibited, silky and sandbar)

1 in aggregate per vessel per trip - possession. No silky or sandbar sharks or prohibited species.

Highly Migratory Species: All owners/operators of vessels fishing recreationally for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) permit. Similar to Atlantic tunas permits, 2010 Atlantic HMS permits will be valid from the date of issuance through December 31, 2010.

Federal regulations currently require a federal HMS angling permit for all owners/operators of recreational vessels fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Those regulations also require an Atlantic HMS Charter/ Headboat permit for all charter or headboat fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic HMS in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. For information contact the National Marine Fisheries Service Permitting Office at 1-888-USATUNA (1-888-872-8862) or visit NMFS Permit Shop at: http://www. nmfspermits.com/initialapp.asp.

Recreational tournament operators: A person conducting a tournament involving scorekeeping or awards for highly migratory species including Atlantic billfish, swordfish, tuna and sharks (whether or not retained), must register with the NOAA Fisheries Permit Office, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL, 33701 or by FAX to 727-824- 5398. The registration must be in writing, at least four weeks prior to commencement of tournament fishing. A tournament registration form is available upon request from the above address or can be requested by FAX to 727-824-5398. NOTE: Federal regulations currently require registration of all fishing tournaments involving the catch and/or landing of any HMS in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Sharks: Closed Season: All Louisiana state waters out to the seaward boundary of the Louisiana Territorial Sea shall be closed to the recreational and commercial harvest and possession of all sharks between April 1 and June 30 of each year.

Sharks taken under a recreational bag limit shall not be sold, purchased, exchanged, bartered or attempted to be sold, purchased, exchanged or bartered. A person subject to a bag limit shall not possess at any time, regardless of the number of trips or the duration of a trip, any shark in excess of the bag limits mentioned above. The practice of “finning,” that is, removing only the fins and returning the remainder of the shark to the sea, is prohibited within and without Louisiana waters. Notwithstanding other provisions of this part, a person may fish for, but not retain, white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) with rod and reel only under a catch and release program, provided the person releases and returns such fish to the sea immediately with a minimum of injury.